From the editor

The May/June edition of Waikato Business News comes on the back of great news for Hamilton as it celebrates landing a leg of the World Rugby Sevens.

37 South managing director Dallas Fisher and Hamilton City Council senior managers such as Sean Murray in particular need to be congratulated for their role in bringing the event to Hamilton.

The coup ends a period in the wilderness for the city in pitching for new events although Claudelands Events Centre ticks over with plenty of significant acts. The hangover of the V8s cast a long shadow over the city, not least to its confidence. This is a welcome move back into the sun – particularly as Dallas Fisher’s involvement means no exposure whatsoever for the city’s ratepayers.

The challenge now – issued so succinctly recently by Hamilton bar baron John Lawrenson – is not to crush the life out of the event with over zealous policing of alcohol breaches which ultimately made Wellington’s event untenable. Dallas Fisher is too clever for that and he has already stated that there are plans to segment audiences so party goers, families and rugby fans can all enjoy the event and entertainment in their own space.

This issue of WBN also celebrates Cambridge’s buzzing businesses scene while our business writer Andrea Fox looks at the low profile but hugely successful Porter Group.

We also profile three businesses whose success had led to them moving to bigger, better premises. Jumpflex has quietly built up a global business exporting trampolines, Crestline Furniture Systems has made its name as a ‘go to’ place for corporate fit outs and Villa Dental continues to lead the way in dental excellence.

Lastly we incorporate a new regular feature into WBN called ‘Bay News’ where we catch up with the latest headlines in the Bay of Plenty business scene. In our view the growing synergies on many levels between Waikato and Bay of Plenty make it all the more important to keep an eye out on what is happening over the Kaimai ranges. I hope you enjoy the edition.